Brain Function Measurement Shows Benefits of Virtual Reality in Creative Art Therapies

Virtual reality (VR) continues to expand its uses in medicine, particularly in the treatment of psychological disorders such as trauma, phobias, and eating disorders. Technology is also emerging as a tool in creative arts therapy.

In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers from the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University examined the differences in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation between two distinct drawing tasks in VR, notably with the introduction of a soothing scent stimulus.

The results of the study indicated significant differences between a rote tracing task and a creative self-expression task, with the rote tracing task showing an increase in PFC activity. It also showed that there was reduced PFC activation for creative self-expression tasks, indicating a possible relaxation response.

The study shows that repetitive tasks, like rote tracing, can improve focus and that creative tasks of self-expression can reduce PFC load and induce relaxation and fluidity. Findings Offer Evidence for Therapeutic Aspects of Creative Self-Expression. “

Girija Kaimal, EdD, lead study author and associate professor at the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University

Because virtual reality allows participants to temporarily detach themselves from their physical reality in a virtual space, the sense of smell was seen in this study as a powerful stimulus, and also to promote a sense of awareness and grounding. during artistic creation tasks.

Although there was no significant impact of scent on PFC activation, emerging differences in scent reactivity were observed by age and gender. A scent, made from a blend of essential oils, was released in the lab on a weekly basis and dissipated within 30 minutes after turning off the diffuser.

Study participants included 24 adults (18 women and six men) aged 18 to 54. They attended two one-hour sessions, scheduled at least a week apart. Participants were blinded by the scent stimulus and were assigned to receive either scent or scent free for the first session via a simple randomization plan.

During the sessions, participants wore an optical brain imaging sensor – Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) – to measure brain function as they engaged in artistic creation in virtual reality. The fNIRS has been used to monitor the underlying mechanisms of neural functioning, including creativity and neural functioning.

Each participant’s PFC was monitored throughout the time participants were involved in artistic creation and resting conditions. The fNIRS served as an objective biomarker of PFC activation in response to drawing tasks. Participants also wore a VR headset, with manual control gear, which used Google’s virtual software, Tilt Brush, to create 3D designs in VR.

“Wearable optical neuroimaging enables continuous measurement of brain function while using virtual reality and enables the study of natural dynamic processes such as the creation of art in virtual spaces,” said Hasan Ayaz, PhD., Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Sciences and Systems, and co-author of the study.

The session facilitator, an art therapist, read from a protocol script with step-by-step instructions for the two virtual reality drawing tasks. Rote tracing consisted of tracing basic shapes on a pre-drawn virtual model, while creative self-expression consisted of participants creating an adapted version of the technique from drawing to doodle, an approach frequently used in art therapy to encourage creativity and spontaneous artistic expression. Each drawing task lasted approximately five minutes, with participants completing both tasks during the session. The guidelines were also created to align with the experimental method allowing comparable conditions between rote task and creative task.

“The results also highlight how drawing tasks can potentially be used in tandem to engage different brain networks in patients,” Kaimal said.